Monday, November 25, 2013

Treat or Trick

On Halloween, I stayed at the house, while my husband went around the neighborhood with my daughter and some of her friends. They were the first trick-or-treaters to arrive at our house, and I could hear their excited chatter as they came up the steps. I was a little bit nervous. I wanted to greet them with the right mix of warmth, surprise, and admiration. I was also nervous about spilling the candy, taking too long to open the door, or tripping on the rug.

The doorbell rang. I opened the door, I mustered my enthusiasm and and said,

"Trick or treat!"

The children looked at me. I looked at the children. After a moment's hesitation, the children dug in to the candy bowl. As the children started to file back down the stairs, my daughter looked at me.

"Mom, you don't have to say 'treat-or-treat,'" she said coldly, without waiting for my response before leaving.

Did she understand that the aphasia that made me say the wrong thing, I wondered? Or is she already feeling that all moms are clueless, anyways?

oh dear. Your little girl is growing up! honest. Yes you are mom and therefore you are clueless. If it wasn't the aphasia you would be wearing an embarrassing shirt. Next time try BOO! or a cackle or dress up for fun and just go for embarrassing. Says the embarrassing mom of 3 adult daughter.

On February 2, 2010, I had a stroke. I was 45. The origins of my brain hemorrhage are a mystery. I have two children, who were 4 and 7 at the time, a wonderful husband, and a great nuclear and extended family. Some say I was a little happier after my stroke. Having a stroke is no fun, but the parade of family and friends has kept me going.